Sales-check holder and notching device



v ,C.-A. ERICKSON. SALES CHECK HOLDER AND NOTCHING DEVICE;

v APPLICATION FlL-ED JUNE 20, 1921.

, Iv 0 QM. E M v 2 a no R r y H mm. g 4: an mm mm, 3 m m m on 5 mm m Q Q e..E. r u 7 Q m @M LM an n 9 w u IE m I m ,6 a P H B Q 3 W 83 v Q.\ n V. g 9 M w 4 w 1 qfim CHARLES A. ERICKSON, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

SALES-CHECK HOLDER AND NOTGHING DEVICE.

' Application filed June 20,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLns A. ERIoKsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in a Sales-Check Holder and Notching Device, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to a novel holder and notching device for checks such asare used in restaurants, at soda fountains and like places, to check the price of meals or the merchandise bought by and served to customers, and also to indicate the number of the waiter or salesman issuing such checks.

.As is well known, this class of pay checks or tickets have displayed on one of their faces in a row along one or both of their edges, a series of numerals which increase from 5, in multiples of 5, to 95' or above. Such checks also have, near their upper ends-,; arranged in a transverse row on each check, a series of numerals which increase numerically or by digits, and at their lower ends another rowof digits disposed transversely on each ticket. This last named row of numerically increased digits,.indicate in dollars, when. properly notched, the amount purchased, while the'transverse row of digits near the upper end of each checkindic'ate, when properly notched, the. number of the customersserved.

These checks or tickets are usually formed by being placed one onthe other and glued. or otherwise fastened together at one of their ends, into tablets or pads, the fastened ortions of'the tickets constituting the stub of the tablet or pad. By this arrangement,

the checks or tickets may be removed one at a time, by tearing them off at a weakened placetherein at the inner end of the stub, when it is necessary to indicate thereon, by punching 0r notching out one or more of the numbers, the amount tobe paid to thecashier for the meal which. has been served or as the price of an articleor articles which have been purchased, orone of the digits, to designate the numberv of customers served. or The principal object of the invention, is to provide a holder for superimposed sales or pay checks, whether in pad or tablet form or Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedJune 13, 1922.

1921. Serial No. 478,954.

in loose blocks, but by preference, for those in tablet form, which shall be of such construction and arrangement of its parts, that a block or tablet of such checks of a predetermined number, can be readily inserted at one of its ends into the holding portion therefor of the holder, and there positively held against accidental dislocation, and in such a manner that after the checks have been used up or exhausted, the stub of'the tablet or the stub-ends of a loose block of checks, can be readily removed from the holder, for replacement by. another tablet or block of checks. i i

Another object of the invention, is to provide a holder for such checks equipped with a punch or notching device, which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, strong, durable, and efiicient in operation, with its parts so made and arranged that it can be conveniently fastenedto a waist-band or belt on the body of the user and in such position that the checks held thereby will be protected from accidental dis-location, yet may be readily reached for removal one at a time, from the holder or'tablet.

; A further object of the invention is to provide means for notchingthe checks accurately at the desiredpoints by the use of one hand only, if desired. V 1

Other objects and advantages of the in vention-will be disclosed in the following description and explanation.

In the accompanying drawing, which serves to illustrate an embodiment of the invention 4 r Fig. 1 is a face or front view of the device showing a pad or block of checks located therein ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the outer side of the device when it is attached to a waist-band or belt.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsectional view I tak enon line 33 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows showing the'initial position of the parts of the device when a pad of checks is inserted at one of its ends into the socket of the holder, but before said pad has been fastened or clamped therein.

V I Fig. 4: is an enlarged view partly in sec of the drawing.

The body of the holder is designated as a whole by the numeral 10 and consists of an elongated channeled casing which is rectangular in cross-section as will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 4 of the drawing. In other words, the body of the holder comprises a flat elongated floor 11, which floor has at each of its side edges an upturned flange or side plate 12 which are i by preference an integral part of the floor 11. One of the side plates 12 is provided near its rear end with a transversely disposed enlargement or guideway 13 which is substantially V-shaped as shown in F 1, and has its apex extended outwardly,

from the plate 12 in which it is formed. Near its-end adjacent thefioor 11 of the holder the 'guideway 13 isprovided trans- 4 versely thereof with an opening 14, the

e ce of which are inwardly beveled or converged as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawing At its rear end the floor 11 of the body of the holder is provided with a I vertically and transversely disposed portion 15 which terminates at its upper portion in a horizontally and forwardly disposed flange or plate 16 which by preference has at its forward end a downwardly extended toothed flange 17 to engage the upper part of the stub of a tablet 18 of checks, each of which is provided with numerals arranged in the manner herein before explained.

The extension 15 of the floor 11 -is located between the rear ends of the sides 12 of the body of the holder and by preference is secured to their inturned portions 19 at their rear ends by means of rivets 20, but of course it will be understood that said parts may be soldered or otherwise connected together.

At one of its side edges the top plate 16 of the holder has dependingv therefrom along the inner surface of the side plate 12 adjacent thereto, a plate 21 which may be secured to said side plate by means of a rivet 22 or otherwise. This plate 21 is provided in its rear portion with a vertical provides means for the passage of clippings guide-way 13 is open for the reception and operation of a plunger or punch 24 which is cross-sectionally' of a shape corresponding with the cross-sectional shape of the guide-way 13 and has its lower end slightly beveled as at 25 to correspond with the inclination or beveled upper portion of the opening 14 in the lower portion of the guide-way 13 for the plunger or punch. The vertical edges of the guide-way plunger or punch 24 lie against the outer surface of the depending plate or portion 21 of the top plate 16 of the'holder on opposite sides of the doorway 23, and as the inner surface of the plunger 24 is open, it is manifest that in the operation of the plunger the parts clipped from the checks in notching the same will be permitted to pass through the doorway 23 into the casing or compart ment formed by the floor, side walls, end wall and top of the casing, Where said clippings will be confined until it is desired to empty the casing of such clippings, which may be done by the removal of the stub of the tablet from the socket therefor of the holder. The plunger or punch 24 is provided at its upper end with a laterally disposed head or thumb-piece 26 from which is extended downwardly through a suitable opening in the top 16 of the casing of the holder, a rod'27 which preferably .hason its lower end a head 28 to prevent its accidental removal.

Surroundingthe rod 27 is a spiral spring 7 29, one end of which rests against the lower surface'of the thumb-piece 26 and the other a'gainstthe uppersurface of the top'16 of the casing of the holder. *By this arrangement it is apparent that by applying downward pressure against. the thumb-piece 26 of the plunger 24, the latter will be caused to move cross-wise at its lower end of the slot. 14 in the guide-piece 13 so as to notch or cut out a portion'of one of the tickets at a proper point thereon to indicate the amount to be paid the cashier, it being understood that after such ticket has been detached from the tablet, it can be placed at one of its edges horizontally in'the slot or opening 14, the converging edges of In order to provide stops for the inner 5 or rear end of the "tablet 18 of checks, I Y provide the top plate 16 ofv the casing of the holder with a pair of spaced and de pending stop members 30 which are by preference punched from the plate 16 and are located thereon at a suitable distance rearwardly of theofront edge or flange 17 of said plate. In order to ositively clamp and hold the tablet 18 of ciiecks, or a block of checks, in position within the socketed end of the holder, I punch from. the floor 11 thereof a longitudinally extended arm 31 which is provided at its rear or free end with a transversely disposed and down wardly extended stop-flange 32. Forwardly of the flange 32 the arm 31 is provided on its lower surface with a series of V-shaped grooves 33 which are almost infinitesimal and extend cross-wise of said arm. These V-shaped grooves are employed for the purpose of engaging the correspondingly shaped upper edge 34 of an upturned flange 35 on the front end of a push-bar 36 which is slidably mounted on the floor 11 of the casing and extends at its rear portion through a suitable openin 37 in the vertical rear wall 15 of the caslng of the holder. This push-bar has on its outer or rear end an upturned portion 38 by means of which it may be advanced or retracted with respect to the arm 31 the notches 33 of which are engaged by the beveled or wedge-shaped edge 34 on the inner end of said push-bar.

As shown, the arm 31 is provided at each of its side edges with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined spur 39 to engage the lower surface of the stub of the tablet. These spurs are very short but pointed at their free ends, and while I prefer to use them for more positively holding the tablet in position in the holder, yet in some instances, they may be omitted.

As the edge of the flange 35 of thepushbar 36 is beveled on each of its sides, it is obvious that it will engage the angular grooves 33 in such a way that the push-bar may be moved back and forth with respect to the arm 31 so as to cause the said arm to tightly clamp the stub end of the tablet 18 against the overhanging plate or member 16 of the casing or socketed end of the holder, or in such a way as to release said stub from pressure exerted by the arm 31 through the movement of the push-bar.

The wall or side 12 of the holder opposite that side which carries the punch 24 is provided with a vertically disposed metal strap or piece 40 which may be secured to said wall in any suitable manner and has extended downwardly from its upper end a hook 41 to engage the waist-band, belt or pocket of the user.

In order to form a guide for the push-bar 36, I provide on the upper surface of the floor 11 of the body, a palr of upright members 42 which are located one on each side of the push-bar. These upright members or guides 42 are by preference punched out of the floor of the body of the holder, and in conjunction with the opening 37 in the rear wall of the casing of the holder furnish a guide which will enable the push-bar to be moved back and forth longitudinally with respect to thebody, yet so as'to prevent lateral movement of said bar.

From the foregoing, and by reference to the drawing, it will be clearly understood and readily seen that by my improvements I provide the body .of the, holder with a casing or socket at one of its ends into which the stub end of a tablet of checks can be readily inserted until the rear end of the table abuts against the stops 30, when, by forcing the push-bar 36 forwardly under the arm 31, it is apparent that said arm will force the upper surface of the tablet into close contact with the lower surface of the overlying plate 16 of the case or socket, in which position the tablet will be positively and firmly held until it is desired to remove the same, when, by retracting the push-bar 36 to about the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, the upper surface of the tablet will be dis-engaged from the plate 16 so that it can be readily removed 7 the number desired, and that the cross-sectional shape of the guide and punch may be varied to produce any desired shape of notches in the checks.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device of the class described, consisting of a body having at one of its ends an overlying part and provided on its floor with a longitudinally disposed arm connected at one of its ends thereto and extended under said overlying part, and a member mounted on the body for longitud-inallyslidable movement and engagement with the lower surface of said arm.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a body having at one of its ends an overlying part and a casing integral therewith, an integral guide on one of the walls of the casing having an opening near one of its ends, an arm on the floor of the body extended under said overhanging part and connected at one of its ends to the floor, longitudinally slidable means carried by the body to move said arm towards said overhanging part, a punch slidably mounted on said guide and having on its outer end a thumb-piece extended over the top ofthe casing, and a spring interposed between said thumb-piece and casing.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a cross-sectionally angular elongated body having at one of its ends an overlying part and provided on its floor with a longitudinally disposed arm extended under said overlying part'and connected at one of its ends to the floor, and longitudinally slidable means carried by the body and co-acting with said arm to move the same towards the said overlying part and to permit its movement therefrom.

4. A device of the class described, consist- 10 ing of a body having at one ofits ends an 

